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Vista Backup security


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Posted

I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup since

image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I currently backup

to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with backing up to DVD RW. Is

there any automatic or default security built into these backups? If

someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that contain my backups can they

access all the data on them? If there is no security in vista backup, what

do you recommend I do to secure my backups?

 

Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way bigger than

I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February 2008 running

32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check for MS auto updates very

frequently. I think it has onboard shared memory sound and video.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Bob

Posted

So you've now found the answer to your origonal post?

No its not secure, but then likely niether is the PC you are backing up

 

 

"Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

news:uHzic2B1IHA.4948@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue">

>I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup since

>image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I currently

>backup to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with backing up to DVD

>RW. Is there any automatic or default security built into these backups?

>If someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that contain my backups can they

>access all the data on them? If there is no security in vista backup, what

>do you recommend I do to secure my backups?

>

> Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way bigger

> than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February 2008

> running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check for MS auto updates

> very frequently. I think it has onboard shared memory sound and video.

>

> Thanks for the help.

>

> Bob

> </span>

Guest Daniel Petri
Posted

Maintaining the physical security of the backup media should be an important

aspect of your security considerations and planning. If someone gains

physical access to your computer , it's not your computer anymore.

 

Replace <computer> with <backup media>

 

--

Sincerely,

 

Daniel Petri

MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

www.petri.co.il

 

"Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

news:uHzic2B1IHA.4948@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue">

>I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup since

>image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I currently

>backup to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with backing up to DVD

>RW. Is there any automatic or default security built into these backups?

>If someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that contain my backups can they

>access all the data on them? If there is no security in vista backup, what

>do you recommend I do to secure my backups?

>

> Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way bigger

> than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February 2008

> running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check for MS auto updates

> very frequently. I think it has onboard shared memory sound and video.

>

> Thanks for the help.

>

> Bob

> </span>

Posted

Thanks for your response Daniel Petri & DL. I password protect my computer

or I password protect the two user accounts on it. Are you saying I am not

really protected? If the maintenance guy or the city fire inspector (once a

year) comes into my condo when I am at work and they turn on my computer

they can get past my password protected user accounts?

 

I always made the assumption if someone took my computer they could work it

till they got access. I thought my computer was secure as long as it was in

my home. Are you saying that someone can waltz into my home for an

inspection and with little time and effort get access to my computer and I

would never know?

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Bob

 

"Daniel Petri <MVP>" <daniel@petri.co.il.removethis> wrote in message

news:8FEBB351-96F0-4668-9014-4F97C98168AA@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue">

> Maintaining the physical security of the backup media should be an

> important aspect of your security considerations and planning. If someone

> gains physical access to your computer , it's not your computer anymore.

>

> Replace <computer> with <backup media>

>

> --

> Sincerely,

>

> Daniel Petri

> MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

> www.petri.co.il

>

> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

> news:uHzic2B1IHA.4948@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<span style="color:green">

>>I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup since

>>image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I currently

>>backup to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with backing up to DVD

>>RW. Is there any automatic or default security built into these backups?

>>If someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that contain my backups can

>>they access all the data on them? If there is no security in vista

>>backup, what do you recommend I do to secure my backups?

>>

>> Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way bigger

>> than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February 2008

>> running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check for MS auto

>> updates very frequently. I think it has onboard shared memory sound and

>> video.

>>

>> Thanks for the help.

>>

>> Bob

>></span>

> </span>

Guest Daniel Petri
Posted

Yes, that's what I'm saying. If you leave your computer unattended, it

doesn't matter if it's on or off, the moment someone has physical access to

it, all they need to do is to boot the machine with some sort of bootable

live CD and immediately gain access to your files, registry and whatever.

 

The only thing you can do to prevent this (to a certain extend) is to use

physical security that prevents them from actually reaching the machine

(locked rooms, server enclosures, cameras, finger print locks and so on),

and/or use BitLocker to encrypt the content of your HD (only if your

computer supports that and if you're ready to risk losing the HD's content

in case you mess things up).

 

--

Sincerely,

 

Daniel Petri

MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

www.petri.co.il

 

"Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

news:%23FXIq%23Y1IHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue">

> Thanks for your response Daniel Petri & DL. I password protect my

> computer or I password protect the two user accounts on it. Are you

> saying I am not really protected? If the maintenance guy or the city fire

> inspector (once a year) comes into my condo when I am at work and they

> turn on my computer they can get past my password protected user accounts?

>

> I always made the assumption if someone took my computer they could work

> it till they got access. I thought my computer was secure as long as it

> was in my home. Are you saying that someone can waltz into my home for an

> inspection and with little time and effort get access to my computer and I

> would never know?

>

> Thanks for the help.

>

> Bob

>

> "Daniel Petri <MVP>" <daniel@petri.co.il.removethis> wrote in message

> news:8FEBB351-96F0-4668-9014-4F97C98168AA@microsoft.com...<span style="color:green">

>> Maintaining the physical security of the backup media should be an

>> important aspect of your security considerations and planning. If someone

>> gains physical access to your computer , it's not your computer anymore.

>>

>> Replace <computer> with <backup media>

>>

>> --

>> Sincerely,

>>

>> Daniel Petri

>> MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

>> www.petri.co.il

>>

>> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:uHzic2B1IHA.4948@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<span style="color:darkred">

>>>I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup since

>>>image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I currently

>>>backup to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with backing up to

>>>DVD RW. Is there any automatic or default security built into these

>>>backups? If someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that contain my

>>>backups can they access all the data on them? If there is no security in

>>>vista backup, what do you recommend I do to secure my backups?

>>>

>>> Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way bigger

>>> than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February 2008

>>> running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check for MS auto

>>> updates very frequently. I think it has onboard shared memory sound and

>>> video.

>>>

>>> Thanks for the help.

>>>

>>> Bob

>>></span>

>></span>

> </span>

Posted

Assuming you mean the standard user password, then any PC literate person

would be able to bypass it, whether such hacking would be legal might depend

on that person having a valid reason, or authority, for doing so.

You can encrypt the hard disk, entirely, then it would depend on how much

resources the person can bring to bear on the 'cracking' an individual would

be unlikely to be able to crack encryption.

Any Inspector probably does not have authorisation for a detailed inspection

of your PC.

 

"Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

news:%23FXIq%23Y1IHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue">

> Thanks for your response Daniel Petri & DL. I password protect my

> computer or I password protect the two user accounts on it. Are you

> saying I am not really protected? If the maintenance guy or the city fire

> inspector (once a year) comes into my condo when I am at work and they

> turn on my computer they can get past my password protected user accounts?

>

> I always made the assumption if someone took my computer they could work

> it till they got access. I thought my computer was secure as long as it

> was in my home. Are you saying that someone can waltz into my home for an

> inspection and with little time and effort get access to my computer and I

> would never know?

>

> Thanks for the help.

>

> Bob

>

> "Daniel Petri <MVP>" <daniel@petri.co.il.removethis> wrote in message

> news:8FEBB351-96F0-4668-9014-4F97C98168AA@microsoft.com...<span style="color:green">

>> Maintaining the physical security of the backup media should be an

>> important aspect of your security considerations and planning. If someone

>> gains physical access to your computer , it's not your computer anymore.

>>

>> Replace <computer> with <backup media>

>>

>> --

>> Sincerely,

>>

>> Daniel Petri

>> MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

>> www.petri.co.il

>>

>> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:uHzic2B1IHA.4948@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...<span style="color:darkred">

>>>I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup since

>>>image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I currently

>>>backup to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with backing up to

>>>DVD RW. Is there any automatic or default security built into these

>>>backups? If someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that contain my

>>>backups can they access all the data on them? If there is no security in

>>>vista backup, what do you recommend I do to secure my backups?

>>>

>>> Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way bigger

>>> than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February 2008

>>> running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check for MS auto

>>> updates very frequently. I think it has onboard shared memory sound and

>>> video.

>>>

>>> Thanks for the help.

>>>

>>> Bob

>>></span>

>></span>

> </span>

Posted

Thanks Daniel Petri & DL. I just got done setting up all my accounts for

online access, now that I have learned my computer is not safe I remembered

and searched and found this article:

Lock Out the FBI for $200

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4264587 or

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/LegalCent...=4264587&page=1

 

Then I found the software they talked about:

http://na.store.pgp.com/desktop_pro.html

http://na.store.pgp.com/whole_disk_encryption.html

http://na.store.pgp.com/desktop_home.html

Which one should I get?

 

The only sensitive info on my computer is my financial accounts and

financial software. Someone could steal me blind in a moment if they got

control of my accounts.

 

What are the consequences of installing this type of software?

Will it be more cumbersome to use my computer day to day?

Will there be a large learning curve?

If installing it crashes my computer is my data is SOL?

How much does it slow my computer?

Will my backups be secure? Or maybe the question is will my backups be

usable?

 

Thanks for the help.

Bob

 

 

"DL" <address@invalid> wrote in message

news:u%236N9Id1IHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue">

> Assuming you mean the standard user password, then any PC literate person

> would be able to bypass it, whether such hacking would be legal might

> depend on that person having a valid reason, or authority, for doing so.

> You can encrypt the hard disk, entirely, then it would depend on how much

> resources the person can bring to bear on the 'cracking' an individual

> would be unlikely to be able to crack encryption.

> Any Inspector probably does not have authorisation for a detailed

> inspection of your PC.

>

> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

> news:%23FXIq%23Y1IHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<span style="color:green">

>> Thanks for your response Daniel Petri & DL. I password protect my

>> computer or I password protect the two user accounts on it. Are you

>> saying I am not really protected? If the maintenance guy or the city

>> fire inspector (once a year) comes into my condo when I am at work and

>> they turn on my computer they can get past my password protected user

>> accounts?

>>

>> I always made the assumption if someone took my computer they could work

>> it till they got access. I thought my computer was secure as long as it

>> was in my home. Are you saying that someone can waltz into my home for

>> an inspection and with little time and effort get access to my computer

>> and I would never know?

>>

>> Thanks for the help.

>>

>> Bob

>>

>> "Daniel Petri <MVP>" <daniel@petri.co.il.removethis> wrote in message

>> news:8FEBB351-96F0-4668-9014-4F97C98168AA@microsoft.com...<span style="color:darkred">

>>> Maintaining the physical security of the backup media should be an

>>> important aspect of your security considerations and planning. If

>>> someone gains physical access to your computer , it's not your computer

>>> anymore.

>>>

>>> Replace <computer> with <backup media>

>>>

>>> --

>>> Sincerely,

>>>

>>> Daniel Petri

>>> MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

>>> www.petri.co.il

>>>

>>> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

>>> news:uHzic2B1IHA.4948@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>>I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup

>>>>since image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I

>>>>currently backup to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with

>>>>backing up to DVD RW. Is there any automatic or default security built

>>>>into these backups? If someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that

>>>>contain my backups can they access all the data on them? If there is no

>>>>security in vista backup, what do you recommend I do to secure my

>>>>backups?

>>>>

>>>> Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way bigger

>>>> than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new February

>>>> 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check for MS auto

>>>> updates very frequently. I think it has onboard shared memory sound

>>>> and video.

>>>>

>>>> Thanks for the help.

>>>>

>>>> Bob

>>>>

>>></span>

>></span>

>

> </span>

Guest Daniel Petri
Posted

Bob, for any 3rd-party software issues you need to contact the vendor of

that software.

 

In any case, you're probably making a big deal out of this. In most cases

proper security measures can safely guard your data, and, in most cases, a

proper re-design of the way you're working and the way you've set up your

network can help you mitigate these risks. Naturally, for some sensitive

information you need to go a bit further, and even that cannot entirely

protect your data against gouvernment agencies, if that's what you fear

(although one might find that their data security issues are dwarfed by

their other issues, if that is the case with them... LOL). In most cases,

given enough resources (like the gouvernment and military agencies hold)

nothing can really be protected, unless similar resources are invested in

the protection itself.

 

--

Sincerely,

 

Daniel Petri

MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

www.petri.co.il

 

"Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

news:%23mDYPFm1IHA.1628@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...<span style="color:blue">

> Thanks Daniel Petri & DL. I just got done setting up all my accounts for

> online access, now that I have learned my computer is not safe I

> remembered and searched and found this article:

> Lock Out the FBI for $200

> http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=4264587 or

> http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/LegalCent...=4264587&page=1

>

> Then I found the software they talked about:

> http://na.store.pgp.com/desktop_pro.html

> http://na.store.pgp.com/whole_disk_encryption.html

> http://na.store.pgp.com/desktop_home.html

> Which one should I get?

>

> The only sensitive info on my computer is my financial accounts and

> financial software. Someone could steal me blind in a moment if they got

> control of my accounts.

>

> What are the consequences of installing this type of software?

> Will it be more cumbersome to use my computer day to day?

> Will there be a large learning curve?

> If installing it crashes my computer is my data is SOL?

> How much does it slow my computer?

> Will my backups be secure? Or maybe the question is will my backups be

> usable?

>

> Thanks for the help.

> Bob

>

>

> "DL" <address@invalid> wrote in message

> news:u%236N9Id1IHA.4912@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...<span style="color:green">

>> Assuming you mean the standard user password, then any PC literate person

>> would be able to bypass it, whether such hacking would be legal might

>> depend on that person having a valid reason, or authority, for doing so.

>> You can encrypt the hard disk, entirely, then it would depend on how much

>> resources the person can bring to bear on the 'cracking' an individual

>> would be unlikely to be able to crack encryption.

>> Any Inspector probably does not have authorisation for a detailed

>> inspection of your PC.

>>

>> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:%23FXIq%23Y1IHA.2064@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...<span style="color:darkred">

>>> Thanks for your response Daniel Petri & DL. I password protect my

>>> computer or I password protect the two user accounts on it. Are you

>>> saying I am not really protected? If the maintenance guy or the city

>>> fire inspector (once a year) comes into my condo when I am at work and

>>> they turn on my computer they can get past my password protected user

>>> accounts?

>>>

>>> I always made the assumption if someone took my computer they could work

>>> it till they got access. I thought my computer was secure as long as it

>>> was in my home. Are you saying that someone can waltz into my home for

>>> an inspection and with little time and effort get access to my computer

>>> and I would never know?

>>>

>>> Thanks for the help.

>>>

>>> Bob

>>>

>>> "Daniel Petri <MVP>" <daniel@petri.co.il.removethis> wrote in message

>>> news:8FEBB351-96F0-4668-9014-4F97C98168AA@microsoft.com...

>>>> Maintaining the physical security of the backup media should be an

>>>> important aspect of your security considerations and planning. If

>>>> someone gains physical access to your computer , it's not your computer

>>>> anymore.

>>>>

>>>> Replace <computer> with <backup media>

>>>>

>>>> --

>>>> Sincerely,

>>>>

>>>> Daniel Petri

>>>> MVP, Senior IT consultant, trainer

>>>> www.petri.co.il

>>>>

>>>> "Bob" <bobbREMOVE-CAPSus99@CAPSyaREMOVE-CAPShoo.com> wrote in message

>>>> news:uHzic2B1IHA.4948@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>>>>>I backup my computer using vista backup. It is not an image backup

>>>>>since image backup is not available on OEM Vista Home Premium. I

>>>>>currently backup to USB hard drive. I am going to experiment with

>>>>>backing up to DVD RW. Is there any automatic or default security built

>>>>>into these backups? If someone steals my USB hard drive or DVD that

>>>>>contain my backups can they access all the data on them? If there is

>>>>>no security in vista backup, what do you recommend I do to secure my

>>>>>backups?

>>>>>

>>>>> Background info: I have a AMD 4400+ 64X2 4GB memory 320GB HD(way

>>>>> bigger than I need) Acer computer (AM3100-U3201A) I purchased new

>>>>> February 2008 running 32-bit MS Vista Home Premium SP1 box. I check

>>>>> for MS auto updates very frequently. I think it has onboard shared

>>>>> memory sound and video.

>>>>>

>>>>> Thanks for the help.

>>>>>

>>>>> Bob

>>>>>

>>>>

>>></span>

>>

>></span>

> </span>

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